System for producing moulds on foundry machinery with two or more mould forming stations



Feb. 17, 1959 E. BUHRER 2,373,490

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING MOULDS ON FOUNDRY MACHINERY WITH TWO OR MORE MOULDFORMING STATIONS Filed April 14. 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hg 2 40a 68 67 7;2 74 21, 69 70 5 I/WAE/VTE: f/PW/NBd'flPF? Feb. 17, 1959 HR'ER 2,873,490

E. BU SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING MOULDS 0N FOUNDRY MACHINEZR Y WITH TWO ORMORE MOULD FORMING STATIONS Filed April 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2LITA/749M761?" .f/Ph m Bylaws www 2,873,490 ERY Feb. 17, 1959 E. BUHRERSYSTEM FOR PRODUCING MOULDS ON FOUNDRY MACHIN MOULD FORMING STATIONSWITH TWO OR MORE Filed April 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 as l 1959 E.BUHRER 2,873,490

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING MOULDS ON FOUNDRY MACHINERY WITH TWO OR MORE MOULDFORMING STATIONS Filed April 14, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I16 [/5 5 III 55I19 III I67 26 169 130 F/g. 5

116 1/2 1/4 1/3 "a lulu Illll Fig. 9

SYSTEM FOR PR C FOUN MACHINERY WITH TWO .MORE MOULD ING TIONS FiledApril 14, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 17, 1959 E. BUHRER 2,873,490

ING MOULDS M$ Mg Feb. 17, E BUHRER SYSTEM FOR PRODUCINO MOULDS ONFOUNDRY MACHINERY WITH TWO OR MORE MOULD FORMING STATIONS Filed April14, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 a 0 0- 153 l 151 [d L5 as 1 174 154 1 y I v141 Y\ 7\l 146 64 Fig. 13 .F/g./4

IA ViA/j'D/P: fin 0V 80/9986? Fela.1 7,1959 IEBUHRER 2,873,490

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCIN MOULDS ON FOUNDRY MACHINERY WITH TWO OR MORE MOULDFORMING STATIONS Filed April 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United StatesPatent SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING. MOULDS N FOUNDRY MACHINERY wlrn TWO OR MOREMOULD FORMING STATIONS The present invention relates to a mouldingmachine with a mechanically driven, intermittently rotating turntablewhich carries a plurality of patterns arranged circumferentially of saidturntable and equidistantly from one another.

A heretofore well-known method of producing foundry moulds includesarranging, on a continuously rotating turntable, vertically movablepatterns and vertically movable squeezing plates and securing mouldingboxes or flasks to a conveyor which is suitably guided when passingthrough the circle formed by the turntable, the said boxes being thenfilled, squeezed and taken away by the conveyor once the squeezingplates and patterns have been withdrawn. Another well-known methodcomprises arranging patterns alone on intermittently rotatingturntables, the devices for the pre-compressing, compressing and liftingoff of the moulds being stationary in this case. The suggestion has alsobeen made to have patterns, shockless jolters and devices for liftingoff the moulds also revolving at the same time as intermittentlyrotating turntables. Also known is the method of using intermittentlyrotating turntables which carry the patterns and the devices for liftingoff the finished moulds, packing being arranged for by the provision ofa stationary squeezing cylinder. Other suggestions provide for thearrangement of patterns supported loosely on an intermittently rotatingplate, packing being effected by a stationary press and the finishedmoulds being lifted off by a stationary attachment.

Also well-known is the method of arranging all the devices necessary forthe making of moulds, that is to say,

jolter, press and lifting oif mechanism, equal distances apart on anintermittently rotating turntable. Finally, the suggestion has been madeto arrange pattern carrying devices on a rotatable and liftable carrier,the said devices being manoeuvrable in the raised revolving position. Inthis method the carrier conveys the moulding box past four fixedstations which possess means for the filling, precompressing,compressing and lifting off of the finished moulds.

All these suggested methods failed to become generally applied inpractice since they either involved too many difliculties in operation,were too complicated, took too little account of the requirements ofmoulding, or else as far as production was concerned, were too littleadaptable to the variations in the number of parts to be made.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention toovercome the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide meansfacilitating production of foundry moulds in an improved and novelmanner and with a high degree of efficiency.

It is another object of the present invention to provide meanscontributing to greatly simplified and compactly organized foundry mouldforming machines which are entirely automatic in operation, require aminimum of supervision, and .efiect valuable savings of time, labor andspace in the production of said foundry moulds.

It is still another object of the present invention to ice 2 providemeans redounding to an efiicacious and integrated moulding systemaflording substantial technical and eco nomic advantages in themanufacture of foundry moulds, said advantages being mainly due to thefact that the operated-upon portions of said system are collocated inone group and are movedas a group past the operating portions of saidsystem which are collocated in another group.

The invention, more particularly, resides in the fact that on theturntable of the machine arelocated, in addition to the patterns, onlythe appurtenant jolting means for the pre-packing, i. e., thepreliminary compression of the moulding material, and that all the otherattachments of the moulding machine are grouped round the turntable andare actuated in synchronism with thelatter. The invention will be morefully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description when read in connection with theaccompanyof extended application and is not confined to the exactshowing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and,therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do notaffect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal projection of a moulding machine according to theinvention with two pre-compression units, the projection being a partlysectional view taken along the line l-I in Fig. 2, the pre-compressionunits not being shown;

Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1 andillustrating the turntable locking device;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the drive for the arrangementshown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9;

Fig. 5 is a partly sectional, horizontal projection of a mouldingmachine with three pre-compression units, the pre-compression units notbeing shown;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional, horizontal projection of a mouldingmachine with five pre-compression units, the projection being takenalong the line VII-VII in Fig. 6, the pre-compressionunits not beingshown;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal projection of a moulding machine with twopre-compression units;

Fig. 9 is a partly sectional, vertical projection taken along the lineIXIX in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal projection of a moulding machine with threepre-compression units;

Fig. 11 is a general horizontal projection of a moulding machine withfive pre-compression units;

Fig. 12 is a partly sectional, vertical projection taken along the lineXII-XII in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of arrow XIII inFig. 11

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of the arrow XIV inFig. 11; and

Fig. 15 is a general horizontal projection of a moulding machine withsix pre-compression units.

In the following a description is first of all. given of the lower partof the machine and its variations, as well as of. the drive mechanismsbuilt into the said lower part and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the base of themachine includes an upper part 2 secured to a machine bed 1. Located inthe latter is a fixed shaft 3 on which a Wheel or gear 4 is positionedand which centers a turntable 5. 'I'helatter is supported on slidingsurfaces 6 of the machine bed 1. On the turntable two cylinders 7 and 8are arranged which carry, respectively, jolt counter pistons 9 and 10.Supported in the latter by means of screws 11 and cushioning bolts 12are themould tables 13 and 14. The mould table 13 carries a pattern 15which supports a moulding box or flask 16, while the mould table 14carries a pattern 17 which supports a moulding box or flask 18. Eachpattern plate or means together with its jolting cylinder and .pistonconstitutes a mould forming station. The fixed shaft 3 possesses currentsupply leads 19 which are electrically connected to conductors 20 andfrom which current collectors (not shown) lead the electricity throughcables to beneath the patterns 15 and 17 in order to heat them duringoperation. In operative connection with the turntable 5 is a rotaryslide valve 21 which possesses a holder 22 in which air pipes 23 arefitted. The turntable 5 is sealed off from the stationary upper part 2by an oil packing 24 so that dust-laden air cannot penetrate into thegear parts or into the oil filling 25 in the machine bed 1. The drive(see Fig. 4) is effected by a stop motor 26 of conventional design. Thearrangement described in the following serves to produce a movement at aspeed varying from zero to maximum and back, vice versa, similar to themovement produced by a rack on a wheel by means of a crank. On the stopmotor 26 a gear wheel 27 is arranged and acts on the gear wheel 28 whichis firmly connected to the shaft 29. The gear wheel 30 which is rigidlyconnected to the shaft 29 transmits the turning movement of the latterto the gear wheel 31 which is revolvingly supported on the stationaryshaft 32 and on which a shaft 33 is arranged at a distance from theshaft 32 and parallel to it. On the shaft 33 a planet gear is locatedwhich, while wheel 31 is turning, hobs with the gear wheel 35 which isfirmly connected to the stationary shaft 32. On the gear wheel 34, at adistance from the shaft 33, a bolt 36 is arranged in the manner of acrank, the bolt carrying a guide piece 37. While the planet gear 34,when the wheels rotate, circles round the fixed shaft 32, the guidepiece 37 slides at the same time back and forth in a guide 38 which isfirmly connected to a gear wheel 39 located on the stationary shaft 32.Parts 33 to 38 are illustrated only in Fig. 4; they are omitted fromFig. 1 for the sake of clarity. 1 The wheel 39 transmits its turningmovement to the gear wheel 40. The latter is engaged with theintermediate gear wheel 41, through it with the gear wheel 4, throughthe latter with the intermediate gear wheel 42 and through this with thegear wheel 43. The wheel has an axial pin or stub 40a which is embeddedin the hole 44 of the machine bed 1, the said hole being closed by thecover 45. Firmly connected to the wheel 40 is a ring 46 and a swivelpart 47, which belongs to the swivel or revolving unit 130 and which, inits turn, is located in a part 48 that is firmly connected to the upperpart 2 of the base of the machine. The swivel part 47 possesses ahole 49in which a piston 50 and a piston rod 51 forming lifting means for agrab (not shown in Fig. 2) are guided, and also a hole 52 in which apiston 53 with a piston rod 54 are guided. The parts arranged on anotherpart 55, which is firmly connected to the swivel part 47 and possesses adust shield 56, will be described later. The parts shown in Fig; 4constitute means to impart relative movement between the turntable 5 andthe swivel unit 130, and the swivel unit 131, described below,respectively.

In the machine bed 1 the journal of the wheel 43 is guided .in the hole57 which is closed by a cover 58. Firmly connected to the wheel 43 bymeans of a ring 59 is a swivel part 60 which possesses a hole 61. A disc62, which has a conical pin 63, lies in the hole 61 on the wheel 43.Firmly connected to the upper part2 is a top piece 64, which, in ahigher position not shown in the drawing,- guides a swivel part 60arranged similar to part 55. The swivel part 60 belongs to the swivel orretrated, has three pre-compression units 76.

. 4 volving unit 131. The piston 65 with the piston rod 66 slides in thehole 61. Cast on the lower side of the turntable 5 is a lug 67 in whicha power-operated locking device (see Figs. 1 and 3) is located. In thelug 67 there is a bushing 68, and in it a second bushing 69 is insertedin order to locate the locking piston 70 which is under pressure fromthe spring 71. The feed pipe 72 of a pressure medium, preferably air,leads to the cylinder compartment 73 so that the locking piston 70 ismoved in one direction by a pressure medium and in the other by thespring 71. As regards the type of machine with two-precompression unitstwo catches 74are firmly connected to the machine bed 1 and correspondto the catches 75 on the wheel 4.

One end of the locking piston 70 arranged on the turntable 5 engages inthe catch 74 (Fig. 3) locks the turntable 5 with the machine bed 1, thedrive wheel 4 of the said table being at the same time released from thecatch 75, and vice versa.

Turning now to Fig. 5, the turntable, there illus- Since theconstruction of the arrangement is principally the same as that shown inFigs. 1 to 4 for the arrangement with two pre-compressing devices, onlythe differences will be described in the following. Adjacent theturntable 77 swivel or revolving units 80 and 81 are arranged at anangle of 120 to each other measured between the radial lines 73 and 79.These units are designed similar to 130 and 131 in Fig. 2 andserve thesame purpose.

The drive is effected in similar fashion by means of parts 26 to 39(42'-43' and 4'), but with the difference that an intermediate wheel 82is arranged between the wheels 39 and 40". Another difference is thatthe ratio of the diameters of the Wheels 4 to 40 or 43 is 3:2 insteadof, as in Fig. 1, the ratio of the diameters of the wheels 4 to 40 or 43being 1:1.

Whereas in Fig. 1 two catches 74 are arranged firmly connected to themachine bed 1, three catches 74 are provided in the arrangement shown inFig. 5. Also the wheel 4 carries three catches 75'.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the arrangement there shown includesfive precompression units. Since this arrangement is the same inprinciple as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, itwill only be describedin so far as it differs from the ones previously mentioned. The base ofthe machine comprises an upper part 84 firmly con-- nected to a machinebed 83. A turntable 85 is located in the manner already described andcarries five precompression units 86 to 90. The wheel 92 is driven inthe same way as that described in connection with Fig. 5, with thetransmission ratios altered accordingly. In contrast to the arrangementsillustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the gear wheels 92 to 94 engage directlywith each other; The wheel 93 is firmly connected to the turtablc 85.The bearing arrangement and the drive of the turntable 85 are eifectedin the same way as that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. Theswivel part 95 possesses two holes 96 and 97 in which the pistons 98 or99, and the piston rods 100 or 101, are guided. In the hole 96 there is,furthermore, a. cover with a pin 102, and in the hole 97 a cover with apin 103. Only one piston with a piston rod 106 is slidingly borne in theswivel part 104 which is connected to the gear wheel 94. In contrast tothe examples illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, this one possesses no catchessince the wheel 93 is firmly connected to the turntable 85.

The superstructure of the machine in its various types is illustrated inFigs. 8 to 15 and described in the following.

In Figs. 8 and 9, 107 designates a roller gear table on which the emptymoulding boxes roll to the mould to the stations thereon. The latter,because it does not form the subject of the present invention, is notdescribed in greater detail.

In Fig. 8 the grab is illustrated in itsposition above the precompression unit 111, and in Fig. 9 it is shown swung out above theroller gear table 107. Furthermore, 112 designates a filling bucketwhich can remove, in a manner which is not described in detail, certainamounts of granular mass from the bunker 113 which is indicated in Fig.9 above the said bucket. In Fig. 9 the filling bucket 112, constitutingat least part of the said supply means for themolds, is shown in itsposition above the pro-compression unit .111. Also indicated in Fig. 9is a spreading device 114 for granular mass or moulding material, themode of operation of which is not described in detail. Swung in abovethe pre-compression unit 115 is a press or squeeze means 116 whose modeof operation is not described indetail and which is supported in aholder 117. Above the roller gear table 118 there is a grab 119 whichdeposits a finished mould 120 on the roller table 118. On the latter andon the machine bed 121 a repeller device 122 is arranged which is notdescribed in detail. On the rollertable 107 acylinder .123 is arrangedwhich keeps the mould box 108 at a distance from the moulding box 109which, in its turn, is pressed against a stop (not shown) bya cylinder124. The grab 110 is firmly connected to the piston rod 54 (see Figs. 1and 2) and secured against turning. about its own axis in the guide 125.The filling bucket 112 is supported on the part 55 (see Figs. 1 and 2)which, in its turn, is firmly connected to the swivel part 47 .and thewheel 40. Since the piston rod 54 is also located in the part 55 and inthe swivel part 47, and is kept from turning about its own axis, thefilling bucket 112 and the grab 110, when the wheel 40 turns in thedirection of the arrow 127 in Fig. 8, also turn in the same directionabout the axis of the wheel 40. The holder 117 is firmly connected tothe swivel part60 (Fig. 2) and through it to the wheel 43. Since thegrab 119 is held rigid on the piston rod .66, which is secured againstturning about its own axis, and since the said grab 119 is located inthe swivel part 60, both the press 116 and the grab 119, when the wheel43 turns in the direction of the arrow 129 in Fig. 8, also turn in thesame direction about the axis x of the wheel 43.

The moulding machine according to Fig. 10 is provided with threepre-compression units. The parts arranged in operative connection withthe swivel or revolving unit 81 (Figs. and are, including the rollertable107 for delivering the empty moulding boxes, the same and have thesame function as the parts in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9 arranged in operativeconnection with the swivel or revolving unit 130. The partsarranged inoperative connection with the swivel or revolving unit 30 (Figs. 5 and10) are, including the roller table 118 for taking away the swung outmould, the same and have the same functions as the parts in Figs. 1, 2,8 and 9 arranged in operative connection with the swivel or revolvingunit 131. The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 10 difiers from that inFig. 8 in that a third precompression unit 134 is added. The verticalprojection in Fig. 9 is therefore also applicable, mutatis mutandis, tothe arrangement shown in the horizontal projection in Fig. 10. 7

Figs. 11 to 14 show an arrangement with five pre-compression units. On aroller table 135 there are empty moulding boxes or flasks 136. Theroller table 135 is constructed in the same way as the roller table 107in Figs. 8 and 10. Two grabs 137 and 138 are firmly connected to acommon piston rod 106 (see Figs. 6 and 7) and secured against turning inrelation to the swivel part 104 by means of a guide 139. The grabs 137,or 138, convey the moulding boxes to the pro-compression unit 140. Abovea pro-compression unit 141 (see Fig. 14)

a filling bucket 192 is firmly .attached to a piston rod 143 which issecured against twist. The piston rod 143 is supported in a slidingbearing formed by the column 144 which is secured to the upper part 84.Arranged above the filling bucket 192 is the outlet 145 of a bunkercontaining granular mass or moulding material. Arranged above apie-compression unit 146 is a press 147 which is not described indetail. 13) rests on a column 148 which is supported on the upper basepart 84 (Figs. 6 and 7). Piston rods 100 and 101 are located and securedagainst twist in a part 149 which is finnly connected to the swivelpart(Figs. 6 and 7 Arranged on thepiston rod 101isa grab 150 which ispositioned above theme-compression unit 151, while the piston rod has agrab .152 which is located above the roller table 153. Arranged on thelatter and on the upperpart 84 is a repeller device 154 (Fig. 12) whosemode of operation is not described in detail. An additionalpre-cornpression unit 156 is arranged between the pre-compression unitsand 150. Above thesaid unit 140 a material spreading device .155 (Fig,1.2) is provided but its mode of operation is not described in detail.

In Fig. 15 there is shown an arrangement with six pro-compression units.This arrangement difiers from the one with five pre-compression units inthat two precompression units 157 and 153 are arranged on thecircumference of the turntable between the pre=compressi0n unit '151 atwhich removing the finished mould takes place (Fig. 11) and thepre-compression unit 140 at which delivery of the moulding boxes to theturntable takes place.

In order to explain the mode of operation of the arrangements with twopre-compression units, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, 8 and 9, the mode ofoperation of the parts shown in Figs. 1 to 4 will first be described.

Let it be assumed that the parts occupy the positions illustrated inFigs. 1 to 3, with the exception of the locking piston 79. The latter isforced into the catch 75 on the wheel 4 by a pressure working againstthat exerted by the spring 71 and acting via the pipe 72 on the cylindercompartment 73. In this position the turntable 5 is locked with thewheel 4. If the stop motor 26 is set in motion by an electric switchwhich is not illustrated and which is operated froma distributingcylinder or control drum of a suitable control system, also notillustrated, the said motor drives the wheel 40 by means of wheel 27 viathe drive elements 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38 and 39. Since thewheel 40 is also connected to the wheel 4 via the wheel 41, and sincethe wheel 4 is connected to the wheel 43 via the wheel 42, the wheels 4and 43 are also driven. The drive of the large masses of the variousmachine parts must, as in the case of the transformation of a crankmovement into a linear one, be efiected with an acceleration from zeroto maximum and vice versa. This purpose is served by the alreadydescribed .gear mechanism (Fig. 4), consisting of the parts 28, 29, 30,31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38 and 39. At the beginning of the turning movementof the wheel 27 the arbor 36 is positioned, as Fig. 4 shows, in a planeincluding both the axis of the shaft 33 and the axis of the fixed shaft32, said arbor at the same time being positioned to intersect at lineconstituting an extension of the pitch diameter of the gear wheel 34.Since, when the planet gear 34 begins to turn in the direction of thearrow 159, the arbor 36, does not yet turn in the direction of the arrow160, the guide 38 and thus the wheels 39, 40', 41, 4, 42 and 43 also donot turn as yet. Only after the turning movement of the planet gear 34has substantially progressed, does the. guide 38 slowly begin to turn asWell, to attain its highest rotational speed after planet gear 34 hascompleted half a revolution. When the planet gear 34 has accomplished afull revolution in the direction of the arrow 159, the rotational speedof the guide 38 is reduced again to zero. Since the planet gear 34 hasthe same pitch diameter as the wheel 35, the said gear 34 and The press147 (Fig.

7 with it the shaft 33 has turned once round the fixed shaft 32 in thedirection of the arrow 160. The arbor 36 has thus at the same time andtogether with the guide piece 37, the guide 38 and the wheel 39, alsomade one turn in the same direction.

Since the diameter of the gear wheel 39 is one quarter that of the gearwheel 40, the latter, after wheel 39 has completed one full. revolution,has turned one quarter revolution in the direction of the arrow 161. Atthe same time the wheels 4 and 43, because they have the same pitchdiameter as the wheel 40, have also turned one quarter revolution in thesame direction 162 or 163. At this moment the stop motor 26 is shut downby means of a trip cam 164 (Fig. 4),-via control switch 165. Since thewheel 40 is firmly connected to the swivel unit 130, the latter also hasturned a quarter revolution in the direction of the arrows 126 (Fig. l)or 127 (Fig. 8). Since, furthermore, the wheel 4 is locked to theturntable 5, the latter, has also turned one quarter revolution in thedirection of arrows 166 in Fig. 1 or 167 in Fig. 8. Since, in addition,the wheel 43 is firmly connected to the swivel unit 131, the latter hasalso turned one quarter revolution in the direction of the arrows 128(Fig. l) or 129(Fig. 8).

After a certain time the stop motor 26 is set in motion again by theabovementioned distributing cylinder or control drum via a switch whichis not illustrated. In the same manner as that already described, thewheels 40, 4 and 43 are turned another quarter revolution and thus theswivel unit 130, which is firmly connected to the said wheels, theturntable 5 and the swivel unit 131 also make one quarter revolution inthe direction of the arrows 127, 167 and 129 respectively in Fig. 8.Now, the abovementioned distributing cylinder controls a slide valve,which is not illustrated, and causes the cylinder compartment 73 to betotally relieved of pressure. The elastic biasing force of the spring 71pulls the locking piston out of the catch 75 and forces it into thecatch 74. In this way the turntable 5 is decoupled from the wheel 4 andconnected to the fixed machine bed 1.

After a certain time the motor 26 is set in motion again by theabovementioned distributing cylinder. The drive is not stopped until thewheel 31 (see Fig. 4) has completed two revolutions in the direction ofthe arrow 160, because although the switch 165 is actuated at the firstpassage of the trip cam 164, this first actuation is at the same timeneutralized by another switch (not shown) operated from theabovementioned distributing cylinder. The result of this is that thewheel 31 is not stopped until it has completed two revolutions. Thewheels 40, 4 and 43 make a half turn and thus regain their startingpositions. Since, during this half turn, the turntable 5 is not coupledto the wheel 4, it remains locked to the machine bed 1, while the swivelunit 130 makes a half turn in the direction of the arrow 127 (see Fig.8) and the swivel unit 131 does likewise in the direction of the arrow129. Pressure is now fed into the cylinder compartment 73 by means ofthe abovementioned distribution cylinder via the already mentioned slidevalve. The locking piston 70 is withdrawn from the catch 74 and forcedinto the catch 75. In this way the turntable 5 is once again coupled tothe wheel 4. Now, the cycle of operations is repeated anew.

I It has been described in the foregoing how the swivel' tional speedranging from zero to maximum and then back againto zero. It can thuseasily be seen that the intermediate positions of the rotating partsafter the completion of a quarter or a half turn can be reached almostexactly, even when the stopped position of the wheel 31 is notabsolutely accurate.

Having explained the mode of operation of the arrangement illustrated inFigs. 1 to 4, we shall now discuss its relationship to the mode ofoperation of the total arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Since theadditional devices do not form the subject of the invention, only theirtask and not their mode of operation is illustrated. Let it be assumedthat a roller table 107 delivers moulding boxes 109, or 108, to themoulding machine. The grab or similar transfer arm means 110 is in theposition illustrated in Fig. 9. After the moulding box 109 has beengripped by the said grab, it is raised until it reaches the stop 168 bymeans of the piston 50 and the piston rod 51 in a manner which is notdescribed in detail. During the quarter revolution which now begins, themoulding box 109 is turned into the position 169 in Fig. 8. At the sametime the precompression unit is turned into the position 170. In thisposition 170 work is carried out on the pattern-cleaning, for instance,the positioning of pouring cups, and the insertion of iron chills. Afteranother quarter revolution the empty moulding box 109 passes thepre-compression point 111 and is lowered and released. Shortly afterthis granular mass is spread over the pattern equipment from thespreading device 114. At the same time the filling bucket 112, which isnow in the position shown in Fig. 8, is raised, takes granular mass fromthe bunker 113 and is lowered again into its lowest position. After thegrab 110 has been raised to the stop 168, the swivel unit makes a halfturn, the precompression unit 111, the moulding box mounted on it andthe spread sand remaining in their positions. While the filling bucket112 is being swung out over the pre-compression unit 111, the grab 110is again swivell'ed over the roller table 107. While the open grab isbeing lowered over the next moulding box, which has in the meantime beenadvanced into position for the grab by actuating the cylinders 123 and124, pressure is applied to the compartment be- ;neath the jolt counterpiston 10 and the said compartment is raised into the position of thejolt counter piston 9 illustrated in Fig. 2. In doing this the saidcompartment raises the filling bucket 112, while the latter pours itscontents of granular mass over the pattern of the precompression unit111. The latter is now set in operation in conventional manner byoperating the jolting device. After the jolting process has beencompleted and the excess granular mass returned to the filling bucket112, the entire pre-compression unit 111 is lowered into the positionindicated in Fig. 2 for the jolt counter piston 10. In this way thefilling bucket 112, held above the swivel unit 130, is lifted from thepre-compressed mould. Now the swivel unit 130 and the turntable 5 makeanother quarter turn and thus a new cycle of operations beginscomprising the delivering and mounting of the empty moulding boxes, thespreading of the granular mass, the filling and pre-compression of themould and the lifting off of the filling bucket 112.

The processes for the final compression, the lifting off and repellingof the finished mould will now be described.

The grab or transfer means 119 is located above the pre-compression unit115 and we shall suppose that the said grab has grasped the finishedmould lying on the said unit in the lowered position and in a mannerwhich is not described in detail. The press 116 is in this case in itsswung-out position above the roller table 118. Now, in a manner notdescribed in detail, pressure is applied to the piston compartment belowthe piston 65. The finishpacked mould in its moulding box or flask isnow lifted from the pattern and raised into its highest position. Thefirst quarter turn swivels the finished mould into the position 171, thesubsequent second quarter turn swivels it into the position illustratedin Fig. 8. At the same time, by means of these two quarter turns thepre- 9 compressedmould lying on the lire-compression unit 111 isswivelledinto the position of the pre compression unit 115, while thepress 116 is swung from its position above the roller table 118 into aposition above the pre-compression unit 115. While the finished mould120 is being lowered on to the roller table 118 and released from thegrab 119, pressure is applied to the press 116 and at the same time tothe jolt counter piston 9. During pressing the latter raises the press116 fiom the clamp of the holder 117 whereupon a simultaneous joltingtakes place. On completion of the finish-packing, the jolt counterpiston of the pre-compression unit 115 is lowered and thepressurereleased from the press 116. The latter is lowered on to the clamp ofthe holder 117 and releases the pre-compression unit together with thefinish-compressed mould. At the same time the grab 119 is raised up andtherepell'er device 112-pushes the finished mould 120 across the rollertable 118. Now, with the turntable locked in position, the swivel units130 and 131 make ahalf turn. In this way the press 116 is swung over theroller'table 11S and the open grab 119 over the pre-compression unit115. After the grab 119 has been lowered and has seized hold ofthefinish-packed mould, the cycle of operations begins anew. I

All these processes are automatically controlled by a distributingcylinder or control drum which is not illustrated. The air pipes 23 leadvia a rotary slide valve 21 to thecorrespon'dingparts on the turntable5. Air pipes are led to the corresponding parts of the swivel unit 130via the rotary slide valve 172 (Fig. 9) and to the corresponding partson the swivel unit 131 via the rotary slide valve 173.

The mode of operation of the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and lO diifersfrom that of the arrangement in,

Figs. 1 to 4, 8 and 9 only in that half turns are carried out all thetime. The bridging switch, which was operated by the distributingcylinder and which in the arrangement with two precompression unitsenabled the half revolution to be completed, is omitted. The necessarywork on the pattern is carried out at the pre-packing point 134, whilethe corresponding work already described, such as delivering andmounting the moulding boxes, filling and pre-compressing the mould, iscarried out in the position of the pie-compression unit 132, and the.finishcompression, lifting off and removal of the finished mould iseifected at the pre-compression point 133. Since the remaining processesare all carried out in the same way as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4, 8and 9, they willnot be described for the arrangement shown in Figs. 5and 10.

The arrangement with five pre-compression units, illustrated in Figs. 6,7, 11 and 12, differs from those described hitherto in that the wheel 4,shown in Figs. 1 to 5 can no longerbe coupled via a locking device tothe turntable, but, as wheel 93shown in Fig. 6, is directly and firmlyconnected to the turntable 85. In this arrangement the following alwaysturn at the same time: the swivel unit 174 with the wheel 94 in thedirection 175, the turntable 85 with the wheel 93 in the direction ofthe arrow 176 and the swivel unit 177 with the Wheel 92 in the directionof the arrow 178. The drive, as illustrated in Fig. 4, is alsoapplicable to this arrangement. The difference consistsin the fact thatthe wheel 39 has a transmission ratio of 1:2 with the wheel 92 shown inFigs. 6, 7.and 12 and which corresponds to the wheel 40 in Fig. 4. Afurther difference is that the intermediate wheels 41 and 42 of Fig. 4are omitted and the wheels 92, 93 and 94 in Figs. 6, 7 and 12 aredirectly engaged. The transmission ratio of the wheels 92:93:94 is inthis case 2:512. The result of this is that when the Wheel 39 in Fig. 7makes one revolution, the wheels 92 and 94 each make half arevolution,While the Wheel 93 turns one fifth of a revolution. The starting andstopping of a turning movement is effected, as has been previouslydescribed, by

means of a distributing cylinder, which is not illustrated,

i 10 or by means of the trip cam 164 via the control switch 165 as showninFig. 4.

The whole arrangement illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 operates asfollows:

Before the turninglmovements, caused by the distributing cylinder viathe stop motor 26, are carried out in the direction of the arrows 175,176 and 178, the following conditions must be fulfilled in respect ofthe separate devices arranged in operative connection with theprecompression units. All the preliminary work must be carried out onthe pattern located above the pre-compre'ssion unit 156. A moulding boxmust bemounted on the pattern above the pre-packing unit and granularmass from the bunker must be spread over it. The empty grab 137 must beopen and in its highest position, while the grab 1 38, which isconnected to the said grab 137 and is also in its highest position,keeps the moulding box 136 raised. Above the pre-compression unit 141and the appurtenant pattern equipment 132 there must be apre-c'ompressedniould 180 (Fig. 14), the pre-compression unit 141together with the parts lying on. it having to be lowered to such anextent that the filling bucket 192, which in its raised position takes anew filling of granular mass from the bunker 145, clears the passagesection of all the parts lying .on the turntable. The moment before theturning movement begins there is a finish-compressed mould 181on thepro-compression .unit 146. The press 147 has been lowered into the clampof the holder 148. The pre-compression unit 146. is also lowered so thatthe passage section of all the parts arranged on the turntable 85 iscleared. Above the .pre-compression unit 151 a lifted off, finishedmould :lies clamped in the grab 150, while the grab 152 is open, emptyand also in the raised position. .T he: finished mould 17 9 which hasbeen lowered on to the roller table 153 has already been pushed acrossthe said roller table by the. repeller device 154.

The turning movements in the direction of arrows 175, 176 and 178,caused by a distributing cylinder which is not illustrated, are elfectedin this position. The pre-compression units 140, 141, 146, 151 and 156are turned another fifth of a revolution in the direction of the arrow176. The swivel units 174 and 177 are turned half a revolution in thedirectionof arrows or 178. While theuempty pattern equipment of thepre-compression unit 151 reaches, owing to the turning movement, theposition of the pre-compression unit 156, the prepared patternYof thepre-compression unit 156 turns into the position of the pre-compressionunit 140. At the same time an empty mouldingtbox is swung over thelatter and then deposited on it. While the :pre-cornpression unit 140together with the patternequipment, moulding box and the granular massspread on the latter turns towards position 141 beneath the fillingbucket, the pre-eompression unit 141 together with the pro-compressedmould 180 is at the same time swung into position 146 beneath the press147. At the same time the pre-compression unit 140 with the finishedmould 181 reaches the position 151 beneath the open grab 150. Thepreviously clamped and lifted off finished mould above the pattern 151is swung over the rolleritable and. lowered on to the latter.

In this phase the following actions take place simultaneously: above thepre-cornpression unit 156 the pattern equipment is cleaned, above thepre-compression unit 140 the granular mass is spread in, above theroller table 135 an empty moulding box 136 is gripped and raised, abovethe pro-compression unit 141 a mould 180 is filled and pre-compressedand the excess granular mass is cut oif, above. the pre-compression unit146 the finish-compression is carried out, above the pre-compressionunit 151 a finished mould is gripped and lifted off, while above theroll out table 153 the lowered, finished mould 179 is released, the grabraised and the finished mould 179 repelled.

After all the devices have been returned to the position in which. theyallow a clear passage section to all the parts arranged on the turntable85, a further turning movement takes place and the cycle of operationsis repeated.

All these processes are automatically controlled by a distributingcylinder or control drum which is not illustrated, the compressed-airpiping, the electric leads etc. being conveyed to the various parts in amanner similar to that described in the case of the previousarrangements.

The arrangement with six pre-compression units, illustrated in Fig. 15,difiers from the one shown in Figs. 11 to 14 only in that between thelast operation, the lifting oil of the finished mould, and the firstoperation, the mounting of the empty moulding box and the spreading ofgranular mass, two pre-compression units 157 and158 are interposed forthe purpose of carrying out the preliminary work on the patternequipments.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in all embodiments there are:first means constituted by the pattern means 17, the mould box 18, andthe mould table 13, second means constituted by the jolting pistons 9and cylinders on the turntable 5, and a plurality of third means groupedaround and adjacent to said turntable, constituted by the swivel unitswhich include the grabs or transfer means 110' and 119 for the mouldboxes, the bucket 112 for the moulding sand, and the squeeze means 116for final compaction, and further the respective swivel parts 47 and 60therefor.

By reason of the present invention the entire cycle of operations can becompleted fully automatically and free of disturbances, all thefunctions being controlled by a control system.

By providing the turntable with, in addition to the patterns, only theappurtenant means for the pre-compression process, the present inventionseeks to eliminate the defects of known'moulding machines. As may begathered from the foregoing description, this arrangement enables aplurality of solutions to be suggested which are perfect from the pointof view of mould making technique and which are readily adaptable to theproduction requirements of individual factories. The fact that amoulding machine has one turntable with two patterns and can thus makeboth the lower and upper part, or in other words, an entire mould, orthe fact that a moulding machine has one turntable with two, three, fiveor six patterns which produce only lower parts of moulds, while 'asimilar turntable, arranged in operative connection with the onementioned above, only produces cope halves, or

finally the fact that a turntable with six patterns produces alternatelydrag and cope halves makes it possible to vary production to the extentof a 1:6 ratio. In addition this ratio can be extended either byenabling the control drum of the control system to be set at differentrotational speeds or by stopping it after each revolution for anadjustable period of time, by means of a time switch for instance. Withthe aid of measures of this sort it is possible to reduce the number ofmoulds discharged per unit of time.

If two moulding machines are operated together, the working tempo of theone can be suitably attuned to that of the other by making thedistributing cylinders or control drums of the two moulding machinesoperate at a synchronous speed.

Similarly it is possible to make a moulding machine as described in thepresent invention operate with conveyers, either by having the speed ofthe distributing cylinder synchronized with the drive of a conveyer orby having the stopping time of the distributing cylinder determined by aconveyer.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A system for producing moulds on foundry machinery which is equippedwith two or more mould forming stations; comprising a turntable on whicha cyclic mould forming operation is to be carried out, first meansconstituting mould pattern means on said turntable and adapted f rcontinuous use in said cyclic forming opercomprising squeeze meanssupported on said further means 1.22. ation, second means constitutingjolting means on said turntable and adapted to be twice placed inoperation during said cyclic forming operation, said pattern means andsaid jolting means being, respectively, coordinated with each other andconstituting the respective number of said stations on said turntable, aplurality of devices grouped around and spaced from said turntable andfrom each other, the angular relationship of said devices to each otherbeing selected in accordance with the number of stations on saidturntable, said devices being adapted to be only once actuated duringsaid cyclic forming operation and including means for feeding an emptymould box to the respective station, sand supply means for said mould,squeeze means for final compaction of said mould and cooperable withsaid jolting means, means for removing said box with a finished mouldfrom the respective station; and means for imparting relative movementbetween said turntable and at least some of said devices, said joltingmeans being further operable for precompacting said mould prior to thefinal compaction thereof by said squeeze means and said jolting means.

2. A system according to claim 1, said means for imparting relativemovement including further means located adjacent said turntable forswivelably supporting said devices and permitting a movement thereofbetween a position relatively remote from said turntable and a positionfor cooperation with the respective mold station on and above saidturntable to contribute to said cyclic mould forming operation.

3. A system according to claim 2, said means for feeding an empty mouldbox and said means for removing a box with a finished mould to and fromthe respective mould station, respectively, comprising grab means eachswivelable with and supported for upward and downward movement by saidfurther means, and lifting means mounted on said further means andconnected to said grab means and adapted to impart said upward anddownward movement to said grab means, said grab means being operable toengage a respective mould box in one of said positions, holding itduring the movements of said I grab means and disengaging it in theother of said positions.

4.A system according to claim 2, said sand supply means comprisingbucket means supported on said fura sand delivery position above arespective mould station, in order to supply said sand into said mouldbox and onto said pattern means.

5. A system according to claim 2, said squeeze means and swivelabletherewith between a non-operative position and an operative position,and engaging means on said squeeze means for rigidly interconnecting thelatter with said pattern means of the respective mould station in saidoperative position. i

6. A system for producing in a continuous cyclic operation composed of aplurality of cycle steps, foundry moulds on a plurality of mouldstations, each station having pattern means and a mould box; comprisinga turntable arranged for rotation, a plurality of mould tables carriedby said turntable and equidistantly spaced from each other, each of saidmould tables being adapted to support pattern means and a mould box,jolting means for each of said mould tables mounted on said turntable,each mould table complementing with its pattern means and mould box amould station, respective operable devices arranged adjacent saidturntable for cooperation with said mould stations, swivel means foreach of said operable devices and operatively connected thereto formoving the latter between a respective first position and a respectivesecond position; said operable devices including means for receiving anempty mould box in its corresponding first position and transferringsaid mould box to its corresponding second position, in which a PIQ1 13determined mould station is located, means for receiving sand in itscorresponding first position and feeding said sand into said mould boxand onto said pattern means in its corresponding second position,squeeze means inoperative in its corresponding first position andoperative for coaction with said mould and said mould table in thecorresponding second position, means for receiv ing said box with itsfinished mould from said predetermined mould station in itscorresponding first posi tion and transferring said box for delivery inthe corresponding second position; and drive means for impartingmovement in a predetermined sequence to said turntable and to saidoperable devices, to bring each mould station into cooperation with eachof said operable devices in one full turn of said turntable and tothereby permit carrying out of said cycle steps in said cyclicoperation.

7. A system according to claim 6, said drive means comprising a stopmotor, and driven means including crank and planetary gear meansoperatively interconnecting said turntable and said swivel means withsaid stop motor.

8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising a stationary basefor said turntable, said turntable being freely rotatable on said base,a gear wheel in operative connection with said crank and said planetarygear means and supported on said base, said gear Wheel being disposedcoaxially With respect to said turntable and rotatable independentlythereof, and locking means supported by said turntable and movablebetween two end positions and engageable with said gear wheel in one ofsaid end positions to couple said turntable with said gear wheel forjoint rotation therewith, and engageable with said base in the other ofsaid end positions while being dis engaged from said gear Wheel, tointerconnect said turn table with said base and prevent rotation of saidturntable upon rotation of said gear wheel.

9. A system for producing foundry moulds, comprising a turntable havinga plurality of mould forming stations, mould pattern means on saidturntable, jolting means on said turntable and coordinated with saidmould pattern means, a plurality of devices grouped around and spacedfrom said turntable and from each other, the angular relationship ofsaid devices to each other being selected in accordance with the numberof stations on said tumtahle, said devices being adapted to be onlyonceactuated during a cyclic forming operation and While said jolting meansare twice operated, said devices including means for feeding an emptymould box to a respective station, sand supply means for said mouldswivelable between a sand receiving position relatively remote from saidturntable and a sand delivery position above a respective station inorder to supply sand into said mould box and onto said pattern means,squeeze means for final compaction of said mould and cooperable withsaid jolting means, means for removing said box with a finished mouldfrom a respective station, and means for imparting relative movementbetween said turntable and at least some of said devices, said joltingmeans being further operable for precompacting said mould prior to thefinal compaction thereof by .said squeeze means and said jolting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,522,135 Long Jan. 6, 1925 1,599,151 Vought Sept. 7, 1926 1,707,411Nicholls Apr. 2, 1929 2,499,209 Balasquide Feb. 28, 1950

